Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making eBook

Skin after the manner of cattle, and stretch the hide
on a hoop-spreader. Page 275.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP.

These creatures are natives of the entire range of
the Rocky Mountains, and are especially prized on
account of the superior quality of their flesh as
food. They are much larger and more powerful than
the domestic sheep, and the ram is provided with enormous
curved horns. The wool of the animal is intermixed
with coarse grey hairs, and the general appearance
of the fur is russet grey, with the exception of the
rump and under parts, which are of a dirty white color.
The animal is generally very wary and retiring, and
inhabits the most secluded and inaccessible mountain
regions and rocky cliffs.

They are easily captured by the steel trap (No. 5)
set in their haunts. The dead-fall is also used
in some instances. Remove the skin as described
for the deer.

THE BUFFALO.

The Buffaloes or Bison of the Western plains is too
well known to need description. They travel in
migrating herds of thousands, and are found from Texas
to British America. Their food [Page 221] consists
chiefly of grass, of which the “Buffalo grass”
is their great delight. They graze and travel
through the day and rest by night. They are more
the game of the hunter than the trapper, although
the largest side Newhouse would effectually secure
one of the animals. The Buffalo is generally
hunted on horseback, the usual method being that of
stealing into the drove while grazing, always moving
against the wind in order to avoid being scented.
The flesh is palatable and by many much relished.
The Buffalo skins of commerce are furnished by the
cows. The bull skins are almost devoid of fur
on the hinder parts, the hair being confined to the
huge heavy mass on the hump and mane. Skin the
animal as described for the Moose.

THE PRONG HORN ANTELOPE.

This sole American representative of the Antelope
tribe we believe is seldom trapped; but as it is a
well-known animal on the Western plains, a short mention
of it is required here. In general shape this
creature bears considerable resemblance to the deer,
the form of the horn being its chief peculiarity,
each one of which is provided with a single prong,
from which the animal takes its name, of Prong Horn.
The color of the body is brownish-yellow, with the
exception of the rump and belly which are almost white.
The Antelopes generally travel in herds, and are much
hunted by the Indians who surround them and destroy
them with heavy clubs. Like the deer, their sense
of smell is especially keen and the same caution is
required in hunting them. In size they are about
the same as the Virginian Deer. They are wonderfully
graceful in all their movements, and are even more
fleet of foot than the deer. These Antelopes inhabit
the Western Prairies and wooded borders from New Mexico
northward, and their flesh is much esteemed as an
article of diet. They may be caught in their
feeding places, as recommended for the deer, using
the same sized trap.